Echoes of Destiny

The First Morning

The wedding procession arrived in Suryagarh under the veil of night. Given the lateness of the hour, it was decided to postpone the wedding rituals until the next day. Advaita was warmly welcomed into the palace, her new home, with all the grandeur and tradition befitting a bride.

Before Advaita and Rajveer could enter the palace, there was a delightful and customary tradition to uphold. Rajveer's siblings, Advaita's sister-in-law Nayantara and her brother-in-law Aditya, playfully guarded the entrance. This jesting tradition involved them requesting gifts and bribes from their elder brother and sister-in-law before granting them entry into the palace.

With smiles and camaraderie, Rajveer gladly offered gifts to his siblings, a gesture of goodwill and unity within the family. This light-hearted tradition served as a joyful icebreaker, further cementing the bonds between the newlyweds and their extended family.

Finally, with gifts exchanged and hearts full of happiness, Rajveer and Advaita were allowed to enter their new abode, marking the beginning of their life together in Suryagarh.

Queen Leelavati, a figure of grace and wisdom, stood before Rajveer and Advaita with a plate in her hands. With reverence, she performed the aarti, a ritual of welcome and blessings. Rajveer and Advaita, touched by her warmth and love, bent down to touch her feet, seeking her blessings for their journey together.

Following the aarti, Queen Leelavati invited them inside the palace, where another set of customs awaited. Advaita, the new bride, was asked to push a jar filled with rice, symbolizing the hope for abundance and prosperity in their new life together.

She then stepped into a container of kumkum water, leaving behind red footprints as a sign of her entry into the household. This act was a symbolic representation of her auspicious arrival.

Advaita was further asked to touch ghee and jaggery, representing sweetness and prosperity, and a bag full of money, signifying financial abundance and harmony in the family.

The couple then lit a lamp in the house temple, a gesture of devotion and spirituality, and offered sweets as an auspicious beginning to their life together.

As the ceremony of greh pravesh, the entry into the new household, concluded, everyone was allowed to rest for the night. The palace now held the promise of love, harmony, and prosperity as Rajveer and Advaita embarked on their journey as a married couple.

Advaita, now in her new home, was taken to a guest room with great care, adhering to the tradition that the bride's face should remain veiled until the muh dikhai ritual.

In the privacy of her room, she changed into comfortable night clothes. The weight of the day's emotional and joyous activities had left her exhausted, and as soon as she touched the bed, she succumbed to sleep.

Wrapped in the warmth of her new surroundings, Advaita drifted into a peaceful slumber, her dreams filled with the memories of her beautiful wedding day and the promises of a loving and prosperous future with Rajveer.

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The next morning, Advaita was gently awakened by Reva, her trusted friend who had accompanied her to Suryagarh. As she opened her eyes and saw Reva's comforting face, a mix of emotions welled up inside her.

In the quiet moments of the morning, Advaita couldn't help but feel a wave of nervousness about the life that lay ahead of her. The exhaustion from the previous day had momentarily masked her emotions, but now, in the stillness of the morning, the reality of her new life began to sink in.

She thought about the unfamiliarity of it all—being in a new place, surrounded by new faces, and entering into a family she had only just become a part of. The uncertainty of what the future held made her feel scared and anxious.